SmileGate studios, a Korean developer, has released an 8-minute trailer for their upcoming game Lost Ark. For the past three years, a team of over 150 employees have been plugging away at the game, and from what we’ve seen so far it looks like a ton of fun.
The game is essentially a hack and slash Diablo-style action RPG, with an MMO twist. Just how this will factor into the game is unknown, as few details have been released outside of the video. According to the website, the game will feature 18 playable classes, including a ranged Gunner class, a classic brawler/melee class called the Fighter, and your standard Magician. The character designs look fabulous, and showcase a lovely blend of Western and Eastern styles.
Speaking of mounts, at one point in the trailer one of the characters hops into a giant mech and begins blasting enemies with enormous machine guns.
The game will allegedly feature mounts (like dragons!), and plenty of environmental interaction. Characters zip-lining from one place to the next, leaping over chasms and climbing walls are just a few on the unique actions that take the player above the standard 2-D and static environments we’re used to seeing in these games. Speaking of mounts, at one point in the trailer one of the characters hops into a giant mech and begins blasting enemies with enormous machine guns. Each of the classes will have unique abilities that can work in conjunction with other players, like the ability for melee classes to use his shield to block the casters.
What really stands out about this game, and will especially hook graphics-obsessed Western gamers, is the visual. Using the Unreal 3 engine, the game looks incredible. The environments are beautifully detailed and coloured, and range in setting from the standard snow-covered castle walls, to steampunk style factories and caverns littered with glowing crystals. The combat animations are slick as hell, with plenty of on screen baddies fighting and blistering particle effects from magic skills all on screen at the same time. Gigantic bosses destroying bridges and platforms while spewing fire might be straight out of Diablo but damn does it ever look nice.
There is no release date as of yet, but the closed beta has been announced as being early 2015. Gamers looking to learn more about Lost Ark can check out the massive Korean gaming convention G-Star, held in Seoul from November 19-22. Check out the video below and get the hype train rolling, because this game looks awesome.
